The ability to connect with others whether in a learning session, over coffee, or at a campus event builds community even as it helps us know that we’re not alone in our work with students.

Community is evident in the work of CETL! While we have many “bright spots”, I’d like to highlight a few:

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Homegrown Poster session was last Wednesday. Scholars highlighted their results and shared ideas on their path in SoTL. I saw connections being made with links for future collaborative endeavors. Kudos to the scholars and facilitators Hilary Fezzey and Sakib Mahmud for their work! For information on each of the projects, please go to our CETL blog at https://uwscetl.wordpress.com/. The call for proposals for this year’s group is out (due date April 16); please see attached and contact Hilary and Sakib with questions.

2. This coming Friday, March 16 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. in the CETL conference room (Swenson 2074) is Freedom of Speech, Academic Freedom, and Freedom of Expression. This session is the second in our series CommUnity Conversations, a collaboration with Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. A growing national debate has broken out over the extent to which colleges/universities, the media, places of employment, and other entities should monitor individual expression and speech. Particularly in places of learning, most would agree that a balance must be established between community standards, students’ rights to feel safe, academic freedom, and the ability of individuals to express controversial or unpopular opinions and perspectives. Come and learn about the legal boundaries and implications of free speech in the University setting. Light refreshments will be served.

The Global Awareness and Inclusivity Community of Practice (which meets THIS Wednesday from noon – 12:50 p.m. in CETL) developed a book club last fall, focusing on“White Folks” by Tim Lensmire. Several book groups met multiple times for discussion, and Lynn Goerdt is organizing a final group of folks before the author comes to campus on March 29 from 11:30 to 1 p.m. in the Multicultural Center. Please contact her if you’re interested, or Jerel Benton to learn more about the event (https://www.uwsuper.edu/edi/news/diversity-dialogue-with-dr-tim-lensmire_event2558603). Additionally, please see a list of events related to equity, diversity and inclusion attached that was developed by the CoP.

The CETL staff continues to grow our own culture and community as we expand in staff and services. We were pleased to welcome Thora Papineau, our new CETL program associate. An alumni of UW-Superior, she is quickly learning the current context, processes and policies of our campus even as she brings new and insightful ideas to CETL.

Not a day goes by in CETL without a consultation, collaborative meeting, or event. Some of the more common topics we’re working with folks on:

using D2L functions to heighten student learning and help with time management;

creating flipped classrooms and videos for face-to-face and online classrooms;